This seems to be the new thing...with the prices to clear samples heading north, it seems most records are going for the electronic, heavy synthesized beats.
Where does most of the credit go to? Does it go Southern Type Music? Mannie Fresh and Beats by the Pound were staples of the sound in the late 90s. Mannie Fresh used more live sounding synths though, it seemed like a live band with trumpets and horns were in the studio with him and I highly doubt that was true I just think he used the right sounds. What about Lil John? Also from the South, the ATL area. Lil John was synth heavy with those southern rolling snares and hi hats. I think Lil John is credited more for developing the snap music and obviously the crunk music, but I think he is a big influence. Is Kanye West the culprit? Kanye has heavily influenced the direction of music especially in the "Pure" hip hop community. You can tell he's influenced Drake, most of Drake's beats sound like beats from "808 and Heartbreaks" , he's obviously a better "rapper" than Kanye but he's borrowed melodies and concepts from Mr. West.
Kanye had to be influenced by someone though right? He went from sped up hip hop soul samples to, depressing heavy percussion, no snare sounding beats. He's even evolving from heavy synths to what I just mentioned. But, since the rest of the world is late, producers are making alot of "Flashing Lights" inspired type beats. Usher, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, just to name a few have alot of Euro sounds in their beats. It'll be interesting to see which way hip hop music will lean in the future, and if Kanye West will have a hand in reinventing himself yet again. He's done it 3 different times in the last 8 years.
